The Savage

Part 3: Chapter Sixteen: Samara

"Sam?"

Samara's eyes fluttered open to see Nadia hovering over her. "Thank the gods, Sam. I thought the fever was going to take you." Nadia said with relief.

Samara struggled to sit up. "Water." She croaked.

"No, no. Stay still I'll get it." Nadia said hurriedly fetching a leather flagon.

The water was warm but nevertheless delicious as it splashed down her face. She eyed her surroundings while she gulped. They were in a tent, a make-shift tent that had been made of the crimson sales of the ship. "Where are we?" she asked.

"Some small island. A lot's happened while you were asleep." Nadia said, quickly peering outside the doorway.

"How long was I asleep?"

Nadia shrugged, "A couple days. A lot of the crew survived. The ship had run a ground just off shore. They pulled it up onto the beach and have been repairing it."

"What about the money?" Samara asked in panic.

Nadia gave her friend a sad look and shook her head. "It's gone. I'm sorry, Sam."

Samara laid back, wincing in pain. "It'll have to be searched for. I'll speak to the Captain."

Nadia shifted from foot to foot. "The captain is dead, Sam. Rees is the captain now. A lot's changed. There was a mutiny after we set up here about whether or not to wait for help or repair the ship. The captain wanted to burn the ship as a signal fire. They turned on him and stabbed him to death." She shivered, "Right out there on the beach."

"What?"

Nadia nodded, "Rees started it. Him and a man named Barri. Who's his first mate now."

Samara stared at the red walls around her, billowing from the breeze outside. Her eyes narrowed as a familiar pattern caught her attention. Her brows shot up, "Is that...?"

Nadia looked ashamed, "I'm so sorry, Sam. Rees said we had to use your kanga. There wasn't any other fabric and the sails had to be patched. I'm sorry."

Samara clenched her jaw, struggling to control her anger. "Funny that my kanga was found but not a trunk full of gold." She spat. "Where does Rees plan to go once the ship is done?"

"Rees wants to continue to Jadida and try to recoup some of the losses, but I don't know what he means to sell."

"I bet I can guess." Samara snipped.

"Most of the men want to go out on their own." Nadia said in a whisper.

"Piracy?"

Nadia nodded again.

"What about food?"

"Pickled eggs and liquor are the only things that survived. But the fishing is good here. I've been salting and packing fish." Nadia paused then pulled a small dagger from her pocket.  It was only about three inches long with prominent cross guards. "Here." She said.

"Where did you get that?"

"I stole it out of Rees things." She whispered. "Keep it near you and out of sight. I don't trust him."

Samara shivered.

"These men are dangerous, Sam."

Samara nodded solemnly, taking the blade and tucking it under her bed role. "How did you find me?"

"You washed up on shore like every thing else." Nadia replied, picking up her sewing.

"Why weren't you in the room when the storm hit?"